Replacing Stock Stereo; Favorite Brands?

[Gina]

Hello! I just got my '94 Explorer XLT today!! I'm very excited and I'm already getting ready to play with it by starting off with a new stereo. I plan on getting a sub, amp, and the works eventually, but for starters I just want to get a CD Player!! I've looked a little around e-bay to see what's out there and I just wanted to know you guys' opinions about the following (or any others):

Pioneer
DEH-F5200
DEH-1300
DEH-P2300

Sony
CDX-CA650X

Blaupunkt (I don't know about these guys...)
RPD-545
Key Largo DM-2000?

These are just a few that looked to be in my price range. I was looking at a few Alpines too. Any general brand name qualities/faults information would be helpful too. My boyfriend says "GET A PIONEER" but that's just because that's what he has. I have a personal grudge against Aiwa too. I don't really know much about stereo stuff, but I can't live off the buzzy radio for much longer!! Thanks for help!

 

[Stephen S]

Congratulations on your new wheels!! What I am about to say is largely my opinions, so take it as you may. I think I'll have to agree with your boyfriend on the Pioneer head unit. But I am also biased because I have one ('99 Model DEH-P4000). I have had no problems with it since the day I installed it and have been very satisfied with it's performance. Out of all the stereos I looked at, I liked it's appearance and available features more than any other brand. I don't think you can buy many better stereos than a Pioneer for their price.

Some of my own suggestions from the stereo homework I did...
I would stay away from any Sony equipment. I was not impressed with their performance when compared to other brands. BTW, Aiwa is a rebadged Sony.
Blaupunkt makes some quality equipment but it's kinda expensive, but I never liked their head unit's design anyway.
I had bad luck with the Alpine head unit I had in my old truck (CDs skipped, display went out...)

Other quality brands to look into IMHO: Kenwood, Eclipse, and Clarion.

Good luck with your choices and enjoy your new truck!

 

[Mike 92 XLT]

Hi Gina

Congrats on the new ride, and you made the right choice for the first mod .

See if you can find one of these on ebay: a Denon DCT-950R. I have had one for the past three years, and it is one of the best-sounding, easiest to use, durable, feature loaded CD players I have ever used. It is a clean and simple design (none of this flashy, gimmiky crap that is so prevalent now), and with dual 18-bit D/A converters, the only unit I have heard that sounds better is the Denon 1000R, but those are about $1000, if you can even find them. I added a 10-disc Denon CD changer, but it is made by Sony and has a 1-bit D/A converter (very common in most CD players). The difference in sound between it and the head unit is astounding. It hardly ever skips and I have never had a problem with it.

If you can't find one, I would recommend Eclipse. Oh, and I'd stay away from Blaujunk. My buddy has gone through three of them in less than a year.

peace

Mike

 

[sideswipe]

I've always gone with Pioneer in all my X's and theyve never done me wrong.

 

[Trapper14]

I have a sony and love the thing! YEH YEH YEH I know alot of people don't like sony, but so far it has given me no trouble! and I run alot of cd's through it, rarely skips, oh let me get that model number, mine goes for $200 at stores but I got a deal on ebay for $100!!! lol I saved 100 bucks! well I can't find it on the xplod website but It hink it is a 450 50 watts going to each speaker!

 

[cjyoung77]

CD brand

Gotta say I agree with Mike, You really can't beat a good Denon or any grade of Eclipse will perform better and last longer than your typical discount store brands. (Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony, etc.)
This is just my personal experience since I have had both kinds. I have had Sony that was excellent, but it was the very best they made at the time. As far as price ( Denon and Eclipse = $$$$$$) my best experience has been with Clarion. I bought what was probably the cheapest model they made about 6 years ago. I used it for 2 years and since my little sister has had it in her Acura without a problem. That's durability for you and it performs very well. Hope this helps.

 

[Jason94sport]

I also have a denon. http://www.spidergear.com will have them.

I for one love the old fashon volume knob. I hate buttons, & all these new mulity color dispalys, with alot of useless features. Just my opionion. The denon is simple, easy to use, & performas great.

 

[rock883]

I would recommend a Clarion. I have had one in my explorer for 2 years now and love it. Plus not everyone in the world has a Clarion like the Pioneer's. It is just nice to have something different than everyone else has.

 

[PLRBEAR]

I've had the following head units:

Clarion ARX9170 ProAudio
- (Dec 1997 - June 2000)
- Survived by DPH9000 DSP, 12 disc stacker
- Required ext. amplifier
- Cost me a bomb (CDN$800) but lasted only 3yrs.
- Nice deck....wish it lived longer
- Funny thing was it had a motorized face, so i expected the face to die first. Face lived, the rest of the deck died......

Sony MDXC6500 Xplode Series
- (Jun 2000 - present)
- Bang for the buck
- MD player w/cd changer control
- Only one gripe......the clock display is damn small.
- I'm really happy with this one and since i only paid CDN$300 for it....really...i couldn't care less.

 

[jimbo74]

i have a sony xlpod cdx-7000 and i love it.... it was 200 us and has cd and a remote......

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1624342&a=12528589&p=45553482&Sequence=1&res=high

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1624342&a=12528589&p=45553478&Sequence=2&res=high

 

[PLRBEAR]

Mine looks just like the CDX-7000, just that it's got an MD player instead of a CD player.

 

[Godspeed]

i love pioneer premier deck. But if you want the best of the best speakers you must go with Focal. in as many reviews as i have seen they beat everyone in price and quality. and for the bass i think that a bass tube dose best in the exploer.

 

[tac0meat]

got a panasonic here, i love it. i get lots of compliments on how well it looks too. got a nice little credit card size remote. in my opinion a very user friendly unit to own. its simple, powerful, and good lookin too. as far as subs go that depends on what your lookin for you want spl or sound quality. if your lookin for just a little more thump i beleive the kenwood subs do great for the price, plus they dont require a very large amp to push them either

 

[Mike 92 XLT]

Focal

Another plug for Focal speakers. I listened to everything out there (a/d/s/, CDT, Diamond, Quart, etc), and IMHO, the Focals just blew them all away. Outstanding detail, clarity, imaging and soundstage and probably the sweetest tweeters you will ever hear.

Oh, and if you would like to add some bass to your system, I have a JL Audio Stealthbox that I am going to be selling in the next month or so. It fits behind the right rear quarter panel in the cargo area, and has a ten inch sub in it. I upgraded the sub in mine to a 10W6, which is JL's top-of-the-line SQ sub. I have used it for less than a year and I am selling it only because I bought a new sub and it doesn't fit in the Stealthbox. I am going to get a box custom made to fit in the same location. If you are interested, let me know.

peace

Mike

 

[espnfreak]

i'd go with alpine headunits. they look EXCELLENT and are very cool. i love em! i only have a cd player now and it works great. i hope to get the speakers and maybe a sub later.

 

[Mike 92 XLT]

Dead Link Removed

 

[beavis195]

Tac0meat, that Panasonic is pretty sweet. My friend has that exact one in his Jeep. He bought the Jeep off the guy, so we don't know all that much about it. When you adjust the subs, it says SUBS 80-1 well you know. What does the 80 mean and the 1 mean? is the 80 the size of the sub meaning an 8 inch sub and the 1 adjusts the level of bass? Thanks.

 

[Nate46290]

I would have to go with eclipse or mb quarts. I have had both of thema nd they both sounded great. RIght now i have mb quart components and i love them. If your going with subs i would stick with rockford. But thats me becuase i love my rockford stuff.

 

[Rydogg]

I would definitely recommend PIONEER!!!